Warhammer 40,000 arrives in the universe of Magic The Gathering in a most fitting manner as the game's numerous factions are already split into preconstructed Commander decks. The Ruinous Powers Commander deck features the chaos space marines faction, a group of space marines that betrayed the emperor to pursue their own goals.
These space marines have turned to the four ruinous powers of chaos: four demons named Khorne, Tzeentch, Nurgle, and Slaanesh. Through their supplication to these forces, the chaos space marines are granted boons in the form of twisted man-made weapons and the warping of their own flesh. As is only fitting, the deck is made up of Grixis colors and uses Demons, board wipes, and chaotic abilities like cascade.
10 Kill! Maim! Burn!
This thematically named removal spell is essentially three spells stapled into one. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to provide much of a mana value discount on the effects it provides, but having all three in one card is still a notable gain.
Furthermore, a card like this is great for Commander, as you can target different opponents with each effect to spread the love. Alternatively, later in the game, you can drop everything on one opponent to make sure they don't claim your well-deserved victory.
9 Nurgle's Conscription
Reanimate effects will always be powerful in a format with twice as many graveyards, especially considering the expensive creatures that tend to be played in Commander. Nurgle's Conscription takes full advantage of this fact by allowing you to pick a creature card from an opponent's graveyard and then exiling every other card in it.
The exile clause won't always be relevant, but you will be very happy when it is. Mainboard graveyard hate is often hard to include, especially in Commander, so this is a nice new toy for control strategies.
8 Herald Of Slaanesh
Creature cards that reduce the cost of specific creature types usually end up serving as lightning rods for removal, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't include them in your decks. After all, they take removal out of your opponents' hands so that your real threats can stick around.
Herald of Slaanesh is a Demon variant of creature cost reduction cards we've seen printed previously. Demons are one of Magic's most popular tribes, and the added benefit this Herald provides through the keyword haste isn't something to overlook.
7 Great Unclean One
Besides featuring a hilarious name that will hopefully entertain the table, the Great Unclean One makes for a great threat since it simultaneously applies pressure on all of your opponents.
Additionally, it also has the chance of generating numerous Demon creature tokens that can be used as chump blockers, sacrifice fodder, or whatever other means you deem necessary. All of this happens at the end of your turn, so opponents will need an instant speed removal spell to prevent it from generating value.
6 Plague Drone
This is pretty much a hate bear for life-gain-related decks, but it's a good one at that. A four mana value 3/3 flyer isn't a terrible deal, but it's not one you'll be excited about either.
All things considered, this creature is great when you're up against a deck that contains life-gain effects and very mediocre if you're not. Still, it's probably worth playing in a Demon tribal deck simply based on the amount of incidental life gain found in most Commander decks.
5 Bloodthirster
This is a great finisher creature that will likely put your opponents in very bad shape if it manages to go to combat even once. Thanks to trample and flying, it's very unlikely that blockers are going to prevent this creature from dealing direct damage. Unfortunately, the bad news is that it doesn't come with haste.
Of course, there are ways to give it haste, including the previously mentioned Herald of Slaanesh, which actually curves nicely into this. Even without haste, this is a creature that demands an answer or threatens to end the game, and that's what we want out of six mana value or greater creatures.
4 Magnus The Red
Magnus rewards you for playing instants, sorceries, and creature tokens, which is an odd combination at first glance. However, numerous token generators in both red and blue serve to make this card powerful. Many of the red ones are sorceries themselves.
Furthermore, Magnus The Red generates his own tokens simply by dealing combat damage to opponents. If there's one thing we've learned from Magic so far, cards that enable themselves tend to be winners.
3 Poxwalkers
Here's a cheap Zombie creature with a reliable recursion mechanic that most Zombie tribal decks will find themselves easily triggering. No wonder it's already priced at over $10.
Deathtouch is a nice added keyword seeing as Poxwalkers only has one toughness. At least the repeated blocks or attacks you make with this creature will be sure to kill something.
2 Be'lakor, The Dark Master
This is shaping up to be a great new Demon tribal Commander in itself, let alone a welcome inclusion to any Demon tribal Commander deck. Since Be'lakor is also a Demon, its prince of chaos trigger is always sure to draw you at least one card.
The lord of torment ability makes this creature truly something to contend with, though, as Demons are well-known for having high power. The fact that you can target anything with this damage trigger is perfect. It's a fine way to finish off low-life opponents or re-establish control of the board.
1 Blood For The Blood God!
Did someone mention establishing control of the board? Blood For The Blood God! is a payoff for playing a sweeper that will have your opponents crying in disgust. Dealing eight damage to every player is a ton of damage, especially considering the ability to discount this card to a cost of only two black and a red.
Beyond that, discarding your hand to restock it with eight new cards is something you can get behind at almost any stage in the game. Additionally, the fact that Blood is an instant means that you can also use this card whenever one of your opponents plays a sweeper, making it even better. Players casting wrath effects should be very wary of this card in the future, lest they end up unwittingly offering everyone's creatures as a sacrifice to the Blood God.